All articles by: Thomas Mcgrath

Manchester City vs Shakhtar Donetsk – Match Preview

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Manchester City vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Tuesday 26th November 2019
UEFA Champions League, Carrow Road

Live on BT Sport 3 – Kick Off: 20:00 GMT

Manchester City return to Champions League action this week as they host Shakhtar Donetsk at the Etihad on Tuesday evening.

Pep Guardiola’s side enter their midweek Champions League clash on the back of their hard-fought 2-1 triumph over Chelsea on Saturday in the Premier League. However, City have a number of injury concerns heading into this fixture. Rodri, David Silva and Sergio Aguero all hobbled off on in Saturday’s win, with the trio all doubts for Tuesday night’s game.

In the Champions League, City have been almost perfect, and sit top of the pile in Group C. they drew 1-1 with Atalanta on matchday four, in a game which will be remembered for Kyle Walker’s brief spell in goal, following the red card given to substitute goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who replaced the injured Ederson at half-time. City are unbeaten so far in this seasons Champions League campaign (W3 D1).

The visitors Shakhtar Donetsk are on course for qualification to the knockout stage, and a win on Tuesday night would take it to the final matchday. Donetsk occupy 2nd place in the group and have lost one of their four group games. Shakhtar boast an outstanding record in the Ukrainian Premier League and top the division. They have won 14 out of their 15 league matches and have a thirteen-point gap between themselves and 2nd placed Dynamo Kyiv.

City ran out winners in the reverse meeting between the two, winning 3-0 in Donetsk on matchday one. In Europe, there have been four previous meetings between these two sides, and City have won three of them. Shakhtar’s only win came in December 2017, where they defeated Tuesday’s opponents on home soil, and they will be hoping to upset the odds away from home.

The referee for this encounter is Slavko Vincic from Slovenia. The 40-year old has taken charge of two Champions League encounters in this campaign, awarding seven yellow cards in the process. Vincic has had experience at the Etihad before. He took charge of City’s 2016 Champions league match with Celtic, where he awarded three yellow cards in a 1-1 draw.

This match will be shown live on BT Sport 3, with kick-off scheduled to take place at 20:00 BST on Tuesday evening.

Prediction: Manchester City 2-0 Shakhtar Donetsk

Suggested Tips – Manchester City vs Shakhtar Donetsk – (BET 365)

  • Correct score – Manchester City 2-0 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Gabriel Jesus – (link no longer available).
  • Half Time / Full Time – Draw / Manchester City – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Manchester City vs Shakhtar Donetsk – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting- Manchester CIty 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 9/4.
  • Price Boost – Kevin De Bruyne to score from outside the penalty area – 6/1.
  • RequestABet Specials up to 10/1 – Manchester City to win, BTTS – NO, and 5+ corners each team – 10/1.

Markets updated at 19:35 AM on Tuesday 26th November 2019.

Reading vs Leeds United – Match Preview

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Reading vs Leeds United
Tuesday 26th November 2019
The Championship, Madejski Stadium

Live on Sky Sports Football HD – Kick Off: 20:00 GMT

Reading return to home soil on Tuesday night as they welcome the arrival of Leeds United to the Madejski Stadium in the Championship.

Reading will be looking to return to their strong recent form after their weekend defeat to Brentford at Griffin Park. The Royals were beaten 1-0, their first loss under boss Mark Bowen. Bowen took over from Jose Gomes in October, and had previously steered Reading to three wins from their last four.

The visitors Leeds United will be expecting to continue their fine form on Tuesday night, and look to turn their pursuit of a return to the Premier League into a reality. Marcelo Bielsa’s side needed a stoppage time winner to overcome a spirited Luton Town on Saturday, as they ran out 2-1 winners thanks to the late goal. United are unbeaten in their last six league affairs, their last defeat coming to Millwall, at the beginning of October.

Reading are currently placed 18th in the league, meanwhile Leeds United find themselves 2nd, and trail league leaders West Bromwich Albion by two points.

Leeds will be more than content with a repeat result from the last meeting between the two at the Madejski. United ran out 3-0 winners, which was the second leg of a league double over the Royals. Reading’s last win over Leeds came in October 2017 which was as Elland Road, but their wait for a home win is even longer, with their last in the April of 2017. Leeds have lost only once away to Reading in six years.

The referee for this affair is Darren Bond. Bond is yet to take charge of a match involving Reading so far this season, but did oversee Leeds home defeat to Swansea, where he brandished four yellow cards. Bond has officiated ten Championship encounters so far this season, accumulating a total of 36 yellow cards along with one red. This considered, I would recommend a minimum of 30+ booking points for this clash.

This game will be televised live on Sky Sports Football, with kick-off scheduled to take place at 20:00 BST.

Prediction: Reading 1-2 Leeds United

Suggested Tips – Reading vs Leeds United – (BET 365)

  • Correct score – Leeds United 2-1 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Mateusz Klick – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Reading vs Leeds United – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting- Leeds to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 2/1.
  • To Win From Behind – Leeds United – 10/1.
  • Scorecast – Patrick Bamford to score first and Leeds to win 2-1 – 20/1.
  • Price Boost – Pablo Hernandez to score from outside the penalty area – 11/1.
  • Half Time / Full Time – Draw / Leeds – 7/2.

Markets last updated on Tuesday 26th November 2019.

Sheffield United vs Manchester United – Match Preview

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Sheffield United vs Manchester United
Sunday 24th November 2019
FA Premier League, Bramall Lane

Live on Sky Sports Main Event HD – Kick Off: 16:30 GMT

Sheffield United return to Premier League action this weekend as they host Manchester United at Bramall Lane on Sunday afternoon.

Its somewhat of an understatement to suggest that Chris Wilders side are enjoying themselves in the big time, following their promotion from the Championship last season. The Blades find themselves 5th in the league, just below last seasons Champions Manchester City, and above Arsenal and this weekend’s opponents, Manchester United.

Sheffield United are unbeaten in their last five Premier League outings and haven’t lost since the end of September. Since defeat, Wilder’s side have defeated both Arsenal and Burnley at home, as well as take points from Tottenham away, their most recent fixture.

Manchester United entered the international break with a 3-1 win against Brighton at Old Trafford. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have lost one of their last four in the league, which came away to Bournemouth at the beginning of the month.

Its away from home which has been the Red Devil’s Achilles heel thus far, with United picking up a total of five points out of fifteen available on the road. United’s only away win this season came in the 3-1 win away to Norwich at the end of October.

Sunday’s meeting between the pair is the first time they’ve met since January 2016, where Manchester United ran out 1-0 winners in the FA Cup. Manchester United have an incredible record against the Blades and haven’t lost since February 1993. Manchester United have won the last seven meetings between the two sides and will be hoping their impressive record against this weekend’s opponent continues.

The referee for this weekends encounter is Andre Marriner. The 48-year old has taken charge of eight Premier League matches so far this season and has accumulated a total of eighteen yellow cars, and one red. This considered, I would recommend a minimum of 30+ booking points for this fixture. Marriner is yet to take charge of a match involving Manchester United this season, but did oversee Sheffield United’s 0-0 draw away at Watford, where he awarded two yellow cards.

This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League, with kick-off scheduled to take place at 16:30 BST.

Prediction: Sheffield United 1-1 Manchester United

Suggested Tips – Sheffield United vs Manchester United – (BET 365)

  • Correct score – Draw 1-1 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Marcus Rashford – (link no longer available).
  • Half Time / Full Time – Manchester United / Draw – (link no longer available).
  • Player to be booked – John Fleck – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Sheffield United vs Manchester United – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Draw 1-1, 2-2, or 3-3 – 10/3.
  • Player Tackles – John Lundstram 4+ tackles – 9/4.
  • Both Players to Score – Lys Mousset and Marcus Rashford both to score – 9/1.
  • Popular Player Stats RequestABets – Mousset to score and Manchester United to miss a penalty – 66/1.
  • Popular Player Stats RequestABets – Martial 2+ shots on target, Maguire 2+ tackles, & Rashford 2+ offsides – 50/1.